Conveyer for production ones



April 30, 1935. W. c. HEATH I 1,999,657

CONVEYER FOR PRODUCTION LINES I Filed Nov. 23, 1951 Gttorneg naar Sie?

a sassy CONVEYER FR PRDTUCTON LllNES William C. Heath, Beloit, Wis., assigner to Fairbanks, Morse & Co., Chicago, Ill., a, corporation of illinois Application November 23, i831, Serial No. 576,848

v 'i oiaims. (oise-si) This invention relates to improvements in conouter extremity with a downwardly depending veyers for production lines, and more particuinverted U'shaped recessed portion lli in which larly to an improved assembly and test line for is securely fastened and received a. downwardly electric machines. Y depending channel shapedV member l5, which An object ofthe present invention is to proserves to form a substantially rigid frame or 5 vide an improved conveyor for production lines, conveyer supporting structure'. These channel which includes a plurality of assembly tables armembers form spaced rectilinear guide portions ranged in spaced relation and adapted as supfor the conveyer. An angle rail i@ is securely ports for the apparatus carried by the conveyer, attached to the arm portions i3 oi each of the drive cables disposed in spaced relation and opframe members il, the rail being extended along 10 eratively 'connected to each table and means for the opposite sides and about the ends of the actuating the cables for moving the conveyer in conveyer support to form a continuous guide a closed path. rail entirely around the conveyer for a purpose A further object is to provide an improved conhereinafter appearing. A plurality oi individual veyer for production lines which includes 'a pluconveyor units il are arranged in equally spaced 15 rality of individually spaced workcarrying tables lrelation about the conveyer lil, each unit includes adapted to be moved in a closed path around a a triangular support i8 which is provided with stationary supporting frame which is arranged a vertically disposed leg portion i9 having-a to support test and assembly equipment at fixed grooved roller 2li mounted thereon by means of a stations, and means for transporting` an operapin 2i which is arranged to engage the rail 20 tor carried by the conveyer Within ready reach of member it?. The grooved roller 2Q is positively the test and assembly equipment. maintained on the rail it by means oi the co- An additional object is to provide an improved operating action between the lateral sides of conveyer for motor production lines which in- `the rail and roller. Upon the upper portion of cludes a plurality of individually spaced work- "the support i3, there is securely attached a 25 carrying tables which are moved in a closed path horizontal Work-carrying table or plate 22 which about a stationary support therefor, guide memprovides suicient Working area to accommodate bers for establishing spaced rectilinear portions adequately several machine parts at the same of the path, assembly equipment disposed along time.` A pair ci rollers 23 are mounted on the the one portion adapted for eiiecting assembly upper portion of each table by means oi pins ifi. 30 operations during movement o the conveyer These rollers are seated within the channel therethrough, the other of the portions being armember yiii to guide and maintain the conveyor ranged for eiiecting testing operations of an units l'i inA positive vertical alignment in respect assembled motor carried by the convey/er, to the conveyer support for apurpose herein- Further objects and advantages will appear after appearing. 35

from the following detailed description of parts The conveyer units il are moved in a closed i the accompanying drawing, in which: path by means of a pair of conveyor cables 25 Fig. l isa fragmentary plan view of a preferred which are secured in spaced relation on the form of conveyer for production lines to which supports it of each unit by means of cable clamps 40 the present improvements are applied; Fig. 2 2d. Apair of cogwheels or sheaves 2l are suitably 40 is an enlarged sectional elevation taken along keyed to a vertical shaftt which is journaled the line 2 2 in Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is a fragmenin horizontally disposed V shaped bearing arms 29 tary side elevation of an end portion ofthe securely attached to the frame il. A driving conveyor. vmechanism 3@ is'operatively connected to one of Referring by numerals to the drawing, ill deskthe drive shafts 23 which carries a pair of the 45 l Vignates, generally, a preferred form of conveyer driven cogwheels El. These cogwheels are arfior use in production lines for electric machines. Aranged `to engage the cable clamps v26 to actuate 'A plurality of I shaped frame members Ii are the conveyer units. The driving mechanism may arranged in spaced relation along and supported be operatively connected to a variable speed vertically upon any suitable floor line or base changing device (not shown) for changing the 50 support'. Each frame member* il is provided llealspe'd Of the COIN/@5781". ObYOllSly,th6g1lde i with horizontallydisposed arm portions i2 and members le are not extended around the cogi3, the arm portions iibeing securely fastened wheels 2i, but are terminated at a point approxito the base support. -Tlie'arm portion `l2 iof Vrnatf'ely tangentially to the cogwheels. `1t will be D5 4cachot the frame`members is provided'near its Areadily seen that' asa table 22 is moved along 5v5 a rectilinear portion of the conveyer path to a point tangential to the cogwheel, the rollers 23 must be disengaged from the guide members i5 before the table may be carried around the cogwheel. During the movement of the conveyer units around the cogwheels 2li, the rail l5, which guidingly engages the roller 2S serves to maintain the unit in the path of travel. By theabove described arrangement the guide rails I5 and I6 serve to establish spaced rectilinear portions of the path, and the rail iii serves to maintain the conveyer in a closed path of travel.

Each conveyer unit i l is provided with an operators seat or chair 3l which is rotatably journaled on a pin 32 mounted on an arm 33 which is pivotally secured by means of a pin 35i to a projecting lug portion 35 on the support I8. The pivot pin til is, by preference, extended downwardly from the lug portion 35 to provide a. foot rest 36 for the opcrators feet when seated on the operators chair. Obviously, the operators seat is disposed, by preference, a lconvenient distance below the plane of the table, to facilitate assembly ,Operations up-on the table While the operator is being transported by the conveyer and moved therewith. Assembly equipment is disposed at spaced'locaticns or stations along the path of the conveyer. The equipment is supported in suitable bins or trays 3l which are supported between adjacent irame supports H. Each bin is supplied with the proper assembly equipment, such as assembly tools and parts, to facilitate assembly operations at the proper time.

The assembly of the electric machine is started at approximately point 35S' of the conveyer, the parts of the machine being placed on an assembly table as it is being moved around the cogwheel. An operator seated on the chair 3i is transported along with the conveyer a suncient length of time to permit a portion of the machine assembly, the time limit for his assembly operation being controlled in part by the linear speed of the conveyer. It will be seen that an operator is transported by the conveyer perhaps for only a short distance after which time he dismounts and seats himself upon next assembly table which is being brought around the cogwheel or along the line. By this arrangement several operators may be positioned along the assembly side of the conveyer, each operator performing a certain portion of the entire machine assembly. It will, of course, be apparent that the horizontal distance between adjacent conveyer units and the linear speed of the conveyer determines the area within which each operator works. It will, of course, be understood that the linear speed of the conveyer and the space relation between adjacent working tables is so selected as to permit assembly operations on a particular table to be completed in advance of the arrival of a second assembly table into the operators working area. The number of operators employed is dependent upon the length of the assembling line, and the extent of the assembling process.

In the present example, the entire motor or electric machine is assembled along side 4U of the production line, so that when any one of the conveyer units .arrived at aproximately point 4i of the conveyer, it carries an assembled machine, which is then moved around the cogwheels 2 at this end and into side L32 of the conveyer. Provision is made for supplying power to the electric machine as it passes down the side 42 of the conveyer. A plurality of bus bars i3 are secured to an insulating member IM which is secured to the leg portion of the stands Il. These bus bars are suitably insulated from each other and the frame by means of the member 4, the bus bars being suitably electrically connected to a source of power (not shown). These bus bars are, by preference, extended over substantially the full length of the opposite sides of the conveyer. A plurality of flexible contact brushes 45 are securely attached to an insulating block 46 which s securely attached to the support le, each brush being arranged to slidably Contact with its associated bus bar. These brushes are provided on each of the conveyer units I T. Leads 4l are electrically connected to each brush 45 and to a switch which is suitably mounted in a convenient box assembly 48 carried by the support i8. A switch push-button fit controls the opening and closing of the switch which is electrically connected to conductors 5E) terminating in spring contact clips for attachment to the leads from the electric machine, which is being carried by the assembly table 22. t will be readily seen that when an assembled machine 5l is carried on a working table which is being moved along the side :i2 of the conveyer the flexible brushes slidably engage the bus bars, and that when the control switch is in closed position, power is being supplied to the electric machine 5I. These machines are mounted upon suitable insulating pads S2 which are disposed upon the table. By the above arrangement the electric machines 5I are being energized for their running in period during their movement along this side of the conveyer. It will be noted that the distance between adjacent conveyer units is ample to permit the operators chair 3i to be swung out of the Way and between adjacent conveyer units.

When the electric machine arrives at approximately position 53 it is ready for test. testing panelboard 54 with its associated meters and testing circuits is supported on the stand Il. A suitable movable load applying means 55 is arranged to be coupled to the machine 5! carried by the conveyer unit, the machine being suitably electrically connected to the panelboard for test purposes. The machine and the load applying means are moved together by the conveyer, so that test data is recorded on the panelboard meters as the machine'travels under influence of the conveyer. The above described means and method of testing a movable electric machine is described and claimed in detail in Letters Patent 1,956,514, Gordon Pt. Anderson, granted May 29, 1934. When the testing operation for the electric machine is completed, the tested motor is removed from the assembly table as it is about to be moved around the cogwheel 2? toward the point 38, during which time the parts for another machine are being placed thereon to repeat the above assembly process.

it will be readily understood that the present improved motor building production line consists of a plurality of traveling assembly'tables upon A suitable i which a motor is being assembled by an operator traveling with the conveyer. In the present example, each conveyer table is supported by means sides'of the conveyer, and that suitable electrical 75 connections may be made from the leads 5t to power driven tools (not shown) for use during assembly operations. Each conveyer unit il is equipped. with the operators chair, switch box and flexible brush assembly so that they are all identical in construction.

t will, of course, be understood that the present detailed description of parts and the accompanying drawing relate to only a single preferred executional embodiment of the invention and that changes may be made in the described construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and full intended scope of the invention.

I claim:

l. In a production and assembly line for electric machines, a conveyer including a plurality of tables adapted for supporting machines to be subjected to assembly operations, means for continuously moving said conveyer in a closed path, guides for said conveyer establishing spaced rectilinear portions of said path, electrical bus elements disposed adjacent one oi said rectilinear portions, electrical pick-up elements movable with the conveyer and adapted to engage the bus elements, means, including said pick-up elements, ior electrically connecting said bus elements to the assembled machine, the other of said portions arranged to permit effecting assembly operations during movement of the conveyer therethrough, and means constituting a plurality of movable operators stations carried by said conveyer.

2. A conveyer for use in assembly and test lines, including a plurality of tables adapted as supports for the apparatus carried by the conveyer, triangular supports for the said tables, an inverted channel constituting a guide rail for the tops o1" said supports and disposed inwardly of the tables, rollers on the upper portions of the supports, operable within said channel, a track below and spaced inwardly of the supports and arranged to receive a lateral thrust and to take the weight of the supports, rollers on the supports engaging the said track, drive cables disposed in vertically spaced relation at one side of said supports, means securing said table supports to said cables, in spaced relation therealong, and means for actuating said drive cables for moving the con- Veyer.

3. ln an assembly line for electric machines, a conveyer including a plurality of relatively spaced assembly tables, each adapted to support a machine during assembly operations, a plurality oi stationary supports, a channel member carried by said supports, a plurality oi rollers carried by said tables, said rollers adapted to enter said channel member, and means for actuating said conveyer.

4. In an assembly line for electric machines, a conveyer including a series of spaced work tables, a stationary frame, a plurality of sheaves journaled at opposite ends of said frame, a plurality of conveyer cables operatively associated with said sheaves and worli tables, means for driving said sheaves and cable, guide members secured to opposite sides oi said frame, a plurality of rollers carried by said tables and adapted to ride within said guide members, said guide members having end portions tangential to said sheave, and means carried by said frame ior guiding said tables about the ends of said frame.

5. In a production and assembly line for electric machines, a conveyer including a plurality of tables adapted for supporting machines to be subjected to assembly operations, each table including a supporting vertical frame structure, track and track-rollers near the upper and lower portions of each frame structure, a pair of brackets carried by and projecting from opposite sides of said frame, a plurality of brush elements carried by one of said brackets, an operators seat carried by the other bracket, a plurality of bus bars adapted to be slidably engaged by said brush elements, said bus bars being connected to a source of power, means, including said brush elements, for electrically connecting said bus bars and the assembled machine, and individual switching units carried by the several table frame structures, and electrically associated with said last named means.

6. A conveyer for use in production lines for electric machines including spaced frame members, each having a substantially vertical leg, a guide rail disposed to be engaged by the upper portions of said legs, a guide rail disposed for engagement by the lower portions thereof, guide wheels carried by the leg and adapted to engage said guide rails, an arm divergently disposed with respect to the vertical leg or" each frame member, a horizontal table portion carried by the arm and leg of each frame member, and adapted as a moving support for the machine under test, and an operators seat carried by each of the frame members.

7. A conveyer for use in production lines for electric machines, spaced frame members, each having substantially vertical legs and divergent arm portions, a depending channel member carried by one oi said arm portions, a guide rail carried by the other arm portion, a'plurality of tables, supports for said tables, a plurality of rollers mounted on said table and adapted to t within said channel member, a roller carried by said support and adapted to engage said rail, and means for moving said conveyer.

WILLIAM C. HEATH.

all) 

